Kal Penn, actor and National Obama Campaign Co-Chair, hosted a press conference call with Ohio student reporters on Sept. 25 to discuss the importance of student registration, student voting and the president’s record on possible student-interest issues. Sinclair Community College was invited to jump on the call and ask a couple questions.
When the Clarion asked about President Obama’s track record and policies that might be of specific interest to community college students, Penn cited several of the administration’s efforts to increase college affordability.
Penn made two points regarding Obama’s attempts to make post-secondary education more affordable. He said the president doubled funding for Pell Grants and that he proposed the American Opportunity Tax Credit.
“Doubling the Pell Grant was no small feat,” said Penn. “It was something the president promised that he would do; it’s something that he delivered on. And I’ve had the chance to talk to quite a few folks who qualified for that and now are able to be in school because of it.”
Penn also cited the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) as another factor helping to increase college affordability by providing a maximum annual tax credit of $2,500 per student.
He referred to the AOTC as being a major point of contention between Congressional Republicans and the president. He retold a story he heard while working in the White House in which the president ultimately walked out on Speaker of the House John Boehner and Representative Paul Ryan, after it was asserted that discussions concerning middle-class tax cuts would not commence unless the president agreed to get rid of the AOTC.
Penn stated that different philosophies regarding the role of government and its responsibility to make these kinds of investments separate the right from the president.
“He [Obama] has consistently stood up for community colleges, career colleges, trade schools, innovation, manufacturing and technology; precisely because that’s going to continue to grow our economy,” said Penn.
He also pointed out that Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, has several decades of experience teaching at community colleges and has partnered with the president in support for community colleges.
Penn also said that students have been critical to the president during the campaign.
He said that volunteers have played an important role during this election cycle by offering to canvas, phone bank or even go door-to-door in their dorm rooms or apartment complexes to make sure people are registered to vote.
Penn mentioned several stories of young people who had expressed their recognition of Obama’s achievements as being their motivation to volunteer in 2012.
Penn referenced the repealing of “Don’t Ask, don’t tell” by telling a story of his own about one of his buddies who was now able to bring his boyfriend to his Marine Corps training graduation.
“We’re seeing a lot of people volunteering now because of those stories,” said Penn. “That’s probably the most important thing that folks can do to explain what the stakes are in this election: to share with their friends the stories about why they’re involved, or why they’re even curious about getting involved, or why they registered to vote in the first place. Almost everyone’s got a story like that. Almost everyone’s taking out student loans or paying a tuition bill or applying for a job when they graduate.”
Deadline for voter registration is Oct. 9, and early voting is available in Ohio from Oct. 2 through Nov. 2. Along with early voting, Penn encouraged visiting gottavote.com.